Written answers

Thursday, 8 February 2007

Department of Education and Science

Schools Building Programme

5:00 pm

Photo of Olwyn EnrightOlwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the chronic shortage of schools in rapidly expanding areas of north Dublin; the plans and timeframe in place to address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4459/07]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware the recent Census preliminary figures confirm the Fingal area of Dublin as the fastest growing area in the country. The Department is of the view that between primary and post primary level, some 20 new schools will be required there over the coming years. The challenge is to provide these schools in line with or ahead of demand for pupil places.

The Department recently published a Draft Area Development Plan for North Dublin, East Meath and South Louth areas, which has quantified the extent of extra accommodation which will be required there for the foreseeable future.

The Commission on School accommodation has commenced a public consultation process on this document. When the final plan is published, this will become the framework against which capital investment for the area will be made for the foreseeable future.

The Draft Plan will also show that considerable interventions have already been made by the Department to increase pupil places and these interventions are being backed up by a significant capital investment programme.

At primary level in Swords, the Department is providing three new school buildings for Swords Educate Together NS, Gaelscoil Brian Boroimhe and Gaelscoil an Duinnínigh. An extension is also being provided St. Cronan's Senior NS, Brackenstown. The Department has a further reserved site in Swords for primary provision and it is in discussion with the local authority for another.

In Balbriggan, the Department is providing a new 16 classroom school for an Educate Together School N.S. which opened in 2005. In September 2006 the Department granted provisional recognition to Gaelscoil Bhaile Brigín, which opened with an enrolment of 35 pupils. St. Teresa's NS, Balbriggan is included among the schools recently given approval for the appointment of a design team to progress an extension project.

There are a further two sites reserved in Balbriggan for primary school purposes and the Department will move to acquire and develop these as the need is identified.

In Lusk, approval was recently given to Lusk NS and St. Catherine's NS to appoint design teams to progress extension projects. The Rush/Lusk Educate Together NS, was recently granted permanent recognition and its temporary accommodation is grant aided by my Department. Two sites have been reserved for further primary provision in Lusk. In Rush a site has also been reserved for primary school development.

At post primary level, a new 1,000 pupil post primary school is being delivered in Donabate under a design and build contract. A new 1,000 pupil post primary school is also being delivered in Balbriggan under the Department's PPP Programme and the Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan was among the schools included on a recent list of projects to go to tender and construction for an extension project.

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